Feeding of cigarettes to packing machines



Jan. 12, 1932. M. P. E. HOHN FEEDING OF CIGARETTES TO PACKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 24, 1931 lnvenfor: v .Max PaI/Z EPWJZ Hahn By M W Al a/ 77:2]

Patented Jan. 12, 1932 ras .r r ome MAX" IPA-UL nans'r norm, or DRESDEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO curves-stirrer." CIGAEETTENMASCHINEN-FABRIK J. o. MULLER & so, on nansnnmcnamhny FEEDING or CIGAIBETTES 'ro PACKING MACHINES Application filed February 24, 1931, Serial No. 517,990, and in'Germany September 10,1930.

In the case of cigarettes of oval, i. e., flattened cross-section, it is already known, for the purpose of turning incorrectly disposed cigarettes during feed to the packing ma- 5 chine, to employ feelers, pawls, grippers or the like, which engage with the front edge of the upper lap of the seam to turn the cigarette either directly or to release a mechanical or electrical apparatus which effects the turn- 0 ing. This method of turning can only be used, however, with flattened cigarettes, which may be fed to the feeler in the fiat position, and in which'the seam always lies in the middle of a flat side.

The present invention relates to a device, by means of which round cigarettes also may be so adjusted that the seam lies underneath or the superscription lies on the top. A feeler of the type specified cannot be used with such cigarettes, because the cigarettes are fed in very many different positions, so that the theseam occasionally also lies at the side, where it cannot be engaged by the feeler.

In order now to be able to adj List-round cigarettes alse, there is provided according to the invention a friction surface along which the cigarettes are conveyed and which acts upon the surface of the cigarette and rotates it until its seam engages with a pawl mounted on the bottom of the conveying apparatus. This pawl is so arranged that on its engaging the seam, the cigarette will have the correct position. Preferably, instead of a single friction surface, a plurality of friction surfaces are arranged in succession, so that they may be made lighter and damage to the cigarettes may be avoided.

A constructional form. of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawingsin which Figural is a front elevation,

FigureQ is a side elevation.

The round cigarettes a are fed on a conveying apparatus which in the example shown is in the form of a chain and which has links 7) provided with trough-shaped recesses for carrying the individual cigarettes. The links Z) are provided with cut-out parts 0, in which 5 1 are inserted resilient pawls all. These pawls each consist of a flat strip spring, secured by 'cordingly as follows means of screw e to thechain link 6 and carrying on-itsfree end ablock f or the like, which is provided with an" inwardly directed sharp edge. set screw '9 serves to adjust the spring, and withit theknife-edge ofthe block to the correct height. "Thepart of the blockadjoining the knife-edge 'is'cut: away upwardly so as to-fit exactly the round form of the fcigarette and 'soIthat the knife-edge can T vided on railsh, which'are secured to the ma-. =1

chine frame in-any mannen for example by means of the screws The said friction surfaces are rotatable about pivots m, and the pivots are located offside of the centre, so that the re'ar part of the friction surfaces in the directionof movement of the cigarettes has the greater weight and willtilt downwardly;

[n the rails hthereare provided-stop screws nfthe adjustment, or which determines the inoperative position of'tlie'friction surfaces 'The mode, of operation of thedevice i The cigarettes are'br'ought-intoany position,just as they come from the machine,

into the individualgrooves of'the conveyor chain, and are then carried beneath the friction; surface 7a; The s rface are lifted slightly by I the cigarettes. as they pass, and

owing to the frictionbetween thecigarette and friction surface, the cigarettes ,are set in rotation. v The cigarettes :arerotated by the succesive surfaces: until the ,frontnedge of,

the seam comes, into o engagement ,with I the knife-,edgeof'the block fjof the pawl As soon as tli'isfhas takenplacathe cigarette is 7 held fast, and, the {friction of "the" following mounted, as in the example shown, on both sidesof the cigaretteyor on one side or in themiddle. The purpose of subdividing the frictionsurfaces is to enable them to be made friction surfaces is nolongerfeffectiv'e to prolighter and to enable the engagement with the cigarettes to be accurately regulated. Constructionally of course, the apparatus may be made different. Thus, conveyor drums may be used instead of the conveyor chains for the cigarettes, or instead of the double arrangement of pawls on both sides, only one pawl may be provided in the middle, or the pawl may be constructed in any other manner.

I claim 1. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position comprising in combination a friction surface, a conveying apparatus carrying the cigarettes with their free lying surface along said friction surface thereby rotating them on said conveying apparatus and stops provided on the conveying apparatus and engaging the face of the seam of the rotating cigarettes for the purpose to stop their rotation.

2. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position according to claim 1, characterized by said stops having the form of rality of friction surfaces arranged side by side.

3. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position according to claim 1, characterized in that the friction surface arranged above the feed path of the cigarettes is constructed in the form of a double lever having a pivot offset from its centre so that the heavier end descends into the path of the cigarettes and is lifted by them when coming in frictional engagement.

4. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position according to claim 1, characterized by the arrangement of a plurality of friction surfaces arranged above the feed path of the cigarettes and being constructed in the form of double levers having pivots offset from their centre so that the heavier ends descend into the path of the cigarettes and are lifted by them when coming in frictional engagement.

5. An aparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position according to claim 1, characterized by said stops having the form of resilient pawls.

6. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position according to claim 1, characterized by said stops having the form of resilient pawls and carrying on their free ends blocks cut away in accordance with the shape of the cigarettes and having a knife edge engaging with the seam.

7. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position, comprising in combination a plurality of friction surfaces, a conveying apparatuscarrying the cigarettes with their free lying surface along said friction surfaces thereby rotating them on said conveying apparatus and stops provided on the conveying apparatus and engaging the face of the seam of the rotating cirgarettes for the purpose to stop their rotation, said stops having the form of resilient pawls.

8. An apparatus for adjusting cigarettes into the face position comprising, in combination, a plurality of friction surfaces, a conveying apparatus carrying the cigarettes With their free lying surface along said friction surfaces thereby rotating them on said conveying apparatus and stops provided in the conveying apparatus and engaging the face of the seam of the rotating cigarettes for the purpose to stop their rotation, said stops having the form of resilient pawls and carrying on their free ends blocks cut away in accordance with the shape of the cigarette and having a knife edge engaging With the seam.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

MAX PAUL ERNST HOHN. 

